Venetian blind cleaning rack



Sept. 2, 1958 Filed Aug. 5, 1954- E. P. MADSEN VENETIAN BLIND CLEANNG RACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

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United States Patent Y 2,849,745 VENETIAN BLIND CLEANING RACK Einar P. Madsen, Perth Amhoy,'N. J. l Application August s, 1954, serial No. 448,045 l 4 claims. (ci. is-zss) This invention relates to a rack or stand for supporting Venetian blinds while they are being washed or repaired.

The primary object of this invention is to provide means for suspending the blind in an extended condition above a washing tub or the like and for lowering this blind into the tub, whereby the slats of the blind are readily accessible and can be thoroughly and conveniently cleaned without damage to the slats or other parts.

Another object of this invention is to provide a stand which is completely adjustable to accommodate varying sizes and shapes of tubs and different sizes of Venetian blinds.

In its preferred embodiment, the stand comprising an upper cross bar of telescoping members which bar supports two pulleys and' two stirrups used for raising and lowering the upper bar of the blind, two upright bars also of telescoping members for adjustability, and two bottom rails or foot members extending at right angles to the uprights and to the cross bar, which foot members are attached to the uprights by means permitting adjustment longitudinally of the foot members.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a three-dimensional view of the rack supporting a Venetian blind;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary elevational View;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a foot member illustrating its laterally adjustable connection to an upright; l

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of a foot member where a hook is used to hold the stand on tubs having curled edges.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the stand includes horizontal foot members 1 and 2 of channel section. Each member is provided with two suction cups 70 to hold it in place and with an elongated slot 3 in which the foot of an upright is fastened. Each upright comprises two telescoping channel bars 4 and 5 fastened to each other by'means of a wing nut 40 and a bolt 50 Y operating and sliding in slot 6. Attached to the lower end of each bar 4 are two L-shaped brackets 8. Each bracket has an open-ended slot 9 to receive a bolt 10. Bolts 10 slide in slots 3 and are fastened by wing nuts 12. As shown in Fig. 1, each upright 4, 5 may be fastened upon feet 1 and 2 in a wide range of positions provided by slots 3. This is advantageous where faucets or pipes are in the way of the uprights, since it permits adjustment of the position of the uprights away from the faucets or pipes.

A cross bar assembly comprises a center member 13, having slots at 14 and 15, and two end members 16 and 17 that telescope upon rail or channel member 13. Wing 2,849,745 Patented Sept. 2, 1958 ice l open-ended slot at 21 (Fig. 2) to receive the bolt 22.

Bolts 22 are permanently attached to upright elements 15. Wing nut 23 fastens bolt 22 to the bracket plates. Above slot 21 is an inverted keyhole opening 24 which receives the round head 25 of a bolt fastened to upright element 5.

Slidably mounted upon the end pieces 16 and 17 of the cross bar assembly are two metal straps 26, 27, each of which suspends a pulley 28. Each end of cord 29 is attached to a stirrup 30 which is slipped over or slidable upon an end of the top bar 31 of the Venetian blind A. The two ends of cord 29 pass upwardly together through locking means 32 and over a iirst pulley 28. Then one strand runs over a second pulley 28. The locking means 32 includes the conventional lever 33 having a toothed or serrated edge. When the cord is moved upwardly by the weight of the blind, the serrated edge catches upon the cord and locks the cord in position.

To set up the rack, the vertical members are adjusted to the desired height and then locked by means of nuts and bolts 40, 50. Each vertical member is placed upon a foot member 1, 2 in the desired position, withrthe slots 9 in position to receive, endwise, a bolt 10. Wing nuts 12 are then tightened in place. The cross bar is then attached by fitting slots 21 under wing nuts 23 and passing bolt head 25 through opening 24 and then pushing or sliding the bracket plates down.

The blind is conveniently cleaned by lowering the opened or extended blind into the tub of water or detergent and permitting it to soak for a time. The blind is then raised part way or fully, and the slats washed individually with brush or sponge and then rinsed with a bath spray.

In Fig. 6, there is shown an alternative fastening means for securing the foot members to a different type of tub. Hook bolt 51 and wing nut 52 lock foot member 1 in position upon curled edge 53 of the tube.

' While the several members are made of channel shaped pieces, it will be understood that they may be tubular telescoping members.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

vWhat is claimed is:

1. A Venetian blind support rack comprising a pair of parallel spaced horizontal foot members, each of said foot members having an elongated slot, an upright telescoping member slidable in each of said foot member slots, a telescoping cross bar detachably secured to the upper ends of said uprights, and suspending means for a Venetian blind, said suspending means including a pair of spaced pulleys depending from said cross bar and a metal strap for each pulley secured at each end of the cross bar and adjustable thereon to accommodate ditferent widths of Venetian blinds, a cord over each of said pulleys, means engageable with the top bar of a blind depending from lsaid cords and locking means for said cords.

2. A Venetian blind supporting rack as defined in claim 1, having a plurality of suction cups secured to the under sides of said foot members.

3. A Venetian blind supporting rack as defined in claim l, having a hook bolt adjustably secured to each of said foot members.

4. A Venetian blind supporting rack comprising a pair of parallel spaced horizontal foot members, each of said foot members having an elongated slot, telescoping'supporting member extending upwardly from each-ofnsaid foot members, means slidably connecting said supporting memberswith said foot members, said connecting members including an Lshaped bracket secured to the lower end of said supporting member, said bracket having an open-ended horizontal slot, a bolt in said4 bracket slot and s'lidable 'in said foot member slot, and a nutiolj securing said bolt, a telescopng cross bar detachably secured `to the upper ends of Vsaid Supportingmembers,

said 4cross bar including a center memberV having slots adjacent its ends, end members having bolts sldableii 10 said slots yand nuts for securing said bolts, vandsuspend-f ing means for a Venetian blind, said suspending means cross -bar and a -metal strap for each pulley secured vat t, kcmnltnodate different widths of- Venetian blinds, and a cord over each of said pulleys, stirrup means depending from said cords.

5 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,030,744 Neumann June 25, 1912 2,391,936 Wilson Ian. l, 1946 2,443,859 Jacobs June22, 1948 2,628,803 KrewsonV Feb. 17, 1953 2,665,698 Robinson A Ian. l2, 1954 2,681,782 Morishita June 22, 1954 2,763,024

each end of the cross bar and adjustable thereon to ac- 15 Simmons Sept. 18, 1956 

